Locating key



DGC. 9, 1952 T, E N 2,620,704

LOCATING KEY Filed Aug. 31, 1950 Gerald 7? Evan ATTDRN EYS Patented Dec.9, 1952 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE LOCATING KEY Gerald T. Evans,Brazil, Ind.

Application August 31, 1950, Serial No. 182,572

1 Claim.

This invention relates to a locating key, and more particularly to alocating key for use in mounting a jig, tool or other fixture on a tableor plate having a slot therein.

This invention is an improvement over my Patent No. 2,372,716, datedApril 3, 1945, for a Locating Key.

The object of the invention is to provide a locating key whichwillpermit a jig, tool or other fixture to be mounted on a table havinga 7 slot or groove therein, the key being of such formation that byturning it to adjusted position it may accommodate itself to tableshaving slots of different widths.

Another object of the invention is to provide a locating key having abody formed as a single block and shaped for selective engagement with aflat-bottomed bored hole in a fixture and the slot of a table, the bodyhaving a bore formed longitudinally therethrough for receiving asecuring screw, the key of this invention fitting four sizes of slots,whereas the key shown in my Patent No. 2,372,716 fits only threedifferent sizes of key slots.

A further object of the invention is to provide a locating key which isextremely simple and inexpensive to manufacture.

Other objects and advantages will be apparent during the course of thefollowing description.

In the accompanying drawings forming a part of this application, and inwhich like numerals have been used to designate like parts throughoutthe same:

Figure 1 is a top plan view of the locating key of the presentinvention;

Figure 2 is a bottom plan view of the key of the present invention;

Figure 3 is a side elevational view of the locating key of the presentinvention;

Figure 4 is a vertical sectional view taken through the locating key,and taken on line 4-4 of Figure 1;

Figure 5 is a sectional view showing the key applied to a fixture andengaged with a table;

Figure 6 is a view similar to Figure 5, but showing the key in a reverseor upside-down position from the position shown in Figure 5 forplacement in a different size of slot.

Referring in detail to the drawings, the numeral 1 designates a tool,jig or other fixture, and the locating key of the present invention isadapted to hold the tool or fixture I in operative engagement with amachine table 2, Figure 5. The fixture 1 is provided with a hole 3 whichis for a purpose to be later described; The table 2 is provided with aslot 4 which is T-shaped in crosssection. The fixture l is furtherprovided with a threaded socket 5, Figure 5, and the threaded socket 5is arranged midway with respect to the hole 3.

The locating key of the present invention is indicated generally by thenumeral 6, and consists of a body fabricated of a single piece ofsuitable material, such as metal. The key 6 is shaped to define a firstend portion 1 and a second end portion 8. Each of these end portions isof rectangular shape to provide four side faces for each end portion. Itwill be thus seen that each end portion 1 and 8 has sets of opposed,parallel side faces, and the side faces are adapted to snugly seat inthe slot 4.

The key 6 is further provided with an annular shoulder 9 which is of thesame diameter as the hole 3 in the fixture I, so that the shoulder 9will snugly seat in the hole 3 in all positions of adjustment to whichthe key may be turned.

, Referring to Figure l of the drawings, it will be seen that the endportion 7 of the body 6 is provided with four flat faces, and two of thefaces are indicated by the numerals l0 and H. The fiat faces I0 and IIare arranged parallel to each other. The other two fiat faces areindicated by the numerals l2 and M, and these faces l2 and I4 arearranged at right angles with respect to the faces [0 and l I. It willbe seen from Figure 1 that the opposed side faces I2 and 14 are offsetinwardly a greater distance than the opposed side faces l0 and l I. Inother words, the distance between the faces l0 and H is greater than thedistance between the faces i2 and M.

Similarly, in Figure 2 there is shown a View of the opposite end of thebody 6. Thus, the end portion 8 includes a pair of spaced, parallel,fiat side faces l5 and it which are arranged parallel to each other, andthe nd portion 8 further includes a pair of spaced, parallel, flat sidefaces I! and Ill. The distance between the fiat faces [5 and I6 isgreater than the distance between the fiat faces I! and I8. Likewise,the distanc between opposed faces on the end portion 8 of Figure 2 isdifferent from the distance between the opposed fiat faces on the endportion 8 shown in Figure 1.

Since the key of the present invention is to be firmly but adjustablyconnected with the fixture I, there has been provided a screw l9 whichpasses through a bore 20 formed longitudinally through the body of thekey axially thereof. This bore 20 has one end portion diametricallyenlarged to form a socket 2| into which the head 22 of the screw I9 fitswhen the end portion 8 is seated in the slot 4. Thus, the screw can betightened to hold the key firmly in place. The other end portion of thebore 2c is enlarged diametrically, as at 23, to form a socket forreceiving the head 22 of the screw I9 when the key is reversed to theposition shown in Figure 6.

Referring to Figure 6, the key of the present invention is shownreversed or upside-down with respect'to the position'it is shown in inFigure 5. Thus, in Figure 6, the end portion 7 is seated in the slot 4'which is of a different diameter or width than the slot 4, and the slotd is formed in the table 2. Also it will be seen in Figure 6 that nowthe end portion 8 projects'into the hole 3 in the fixture i. v

From the foregoing it is apparent that a loeating key has been providedwhich is an improvement over the locating key shown in my Patent2,372,716. The locating key of the present invention can be used to fitfour different sizes of T-slots in tables 2, whereas the patented devicewill only fit three different sizes. Thus, since the distance betweenthe opposed fiat faces on each end portion of the body is different, thebody can be turned to two different positions to fit four differentsizes'of slots in tables. In other Words, with the end portion 8, theuser can either arrange the opposed side faces it and ii in engagementwith the side walls of the slot in the table, or the'user can arrangethe opposed side faces l2 and M in engagement with the side walls of theslot. Likewise, by turning the body upside-down, theuser will be able toeither arrange the side faces I? and [8 in engagement with the sidewalls of the slot or he can arrange the side faces [5 and IS inengagement with the sid walls of the slot. Thus, the key will fit fourdifferent sizes of slots. Whenever the key of the present invention isto be adjusted or turned upside-down, the screw IE3 is loosened untilthe body 6 can be turned to its adjusted position, presenting a pair ofselected side faces for seating in the slot in the table. Since eitherend portion l or 8 may be seated in a slot in the table, there isprovided a pair of sockets BI and 23, and therefore, the head 22 ofscrew :9 will be received in one of these sockets. The key can also beturned upside-down by loosening the screw [9, so that either end portion1 or 3 may be seated in a slot in th table.

The opposed side faces [2 and M are offset inwardly a greater distancethan the opposed side faces [0 and Ii, Figure 1, and it will be seenthat the distance between the side faces 12 and M along the line B isshorter or less than the distance between the side faces Ill and I!along the line A. Likewise, in Figure 2, it will be seen that thedistance between the side faces I! and [8 along the line D is less thanthe dis- 7 4 present invention to various positions, the key may besnugly engaged in different sizes of slots.

A portion of the body of the key of the present invention is cylindricalin shape so that it can be readily mounted in a fiat-bottomed bored holein a fixture. This is advantageous because the key can be placed in thefixture much more rapidly, accurately and easily than ahexagonally-shaped locating key. Thecylindrical portion of the keyofthepresent invention bears on the cylindrical surface of thefiat-bottomed bored hole in which it is mounted. It will be seen fromthe drawings that the corners of each end portion 1 and 8 are rounded,so as to provide better bearing surfaces. The depth of the flat-bottomedbored hole is slightly greater or deeper than the length of the keytaken from one edge of the annular shoulder 9 to the furthest end of thekey. The four curved corners on each end portion of the key aremaintained at their greatest area by determining the best two T-slotsizes, as for example, the distances along lines A, B, C or D.

Usually two keys are required per fixture, and the two key-mountingholes are bored on the same center line. Thus, when aligning the twokeys, after determining the T-slot size to be used, it is only necessaryto use a straight edge or to set'the fixture on the table, and permitthe end portions of the keys to enter the T-slots, and then the screwsare attached.

To adjust keys for different sizes of Teslots, the attaching screw isloosened and the keys are turned to the required size and aligned, or ifnecessary, the key can. be reversed or turned upside-down.

I claim:

A locating key comprising a body having a pair of end portions forfitting into a hole of a fixture and for fitting into a slot of a table,there being a bore formed through the body axially thereof and havingenlarged end portions forming sockets, a screw passing through the boreand having a head seated in one of the sockets, the body beingadjustable about the screw, the end portions'of the body having opposedside faces for engagement with the side walls of the slot in the tableto hold the key in adjusted position, each end portion having sets ofopposed fiat side faces spaced from the axis of the body different.distances to adapt the key for snug fit within table slots of differentwidths.

T. EVANS.

REFERENCES CITED,

The following references are of record inthe file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Evans Apr. 3, 1945

